Excited to see Jeremy Clements’ Hendrick Throwback
By Geoff Bodine
Like many of you, I found out on social media a couple of weeks ago about Jeremy Clements Racing’s throwback to the Levi Garrett No. 5 car.
That was a great paint scheme! And to hear it was going to be on track again was a complete and pleasant surprise.
I drove those colors with Hendrick Motorsports from 1985 to 1989. The first race we won was the 1986 DAYTONA 500. We won four Cup races with the yellow, brown and white. I hope it brings Jeremy good luck!
Being able to see the car this weekend will bring back a lot of memories.
Darlington is special to me
In the NASCAR Sportsman Series — now the present-day Xfinity Series — I raced in a late model in 1982 at the speedway with Frank Plessinger’s team, the owner of Hagerstown Speedway. We had a great start to the season. We were early contenders for the series championship.
Darlington was one of the early races in the season. I started third, right behind The Silver Fox, David Pearson and Harry Gant. On that day, I learned how to race at Darlington.
Our No. 99 was fast, and I was able to shadow Pearson early in the race. I ended up winning that day, beating the likes of David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, and Sam Ard.
To beat David Pearson was incredible. He showed me how to win at The Lady in Black!
At that time, technology and engineering weren’t being passed down from big teams to little teams. We were a rag-tag team. The series had better opportunities for smaller teams to shine, and I had the right combination that day. We smoked them.
A couple days later, I got a call from Cliff Stewart to race his No. 50 Cup Series car for the rest of the 1982 season. He told me if I could win at Darlington, I could win anywhere. We ended up finishing inside the Top-10 often and we beat out Mark Martin for Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
This weekend
A few of the NASCAR racecars I’ve driven over the years have had a throwback paint scheme, and every time I see them, It reminds me of what our teams accomplished. When I see any of the Hendrick throwback schemes related to me, it makes me smile, as I know I will this weekend.
I don’t know Jeremy Clements personally, but I don’t think he ever spun me out, and I watch him every week.
I’ve got plans on sitting in his No. 51 car before the race. If for some reason, he cannot race Saturday, maybe he’ll let me drive it.
The paint schemes represent good, good racing and good times! I hope people enjoy it!
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